Cylinder construction for firearms



April 18, 1933. J. w. HARRINGTON 1,904,730

CYLINDER CONSTRUCTION FOR FIREARMS Filed Jan. 7, 1952 Fig.1. Fig.2.

' lhvenlor; john U): Hqrringion AHOY-nay l 'atented Apr. 18, 1 933 JOHN W. HARRINGTON, or WORCESTER, MAssAcstUsRT'rs, assIGNoR To II RINGroN & RICHARDSON ARMS coMrANY, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A ooRroRA rroN 7 OF MASSACHUSETTS Application filed January 7, 1932.

' The present invention relates to firearms and particularly to a novel cylinder construction for use in revolvers and the like.

In prior devices of this character, the cylinder of the revolver has provided separate recesses at the firing end thereof to receive the heads of the shells which extend through longitudinal bores in said cylinder, said recesses being concentric with the longitudinal bores. In addition to the increased cost of manufacture in providing these individual recesses for each shell, it has been found that the heads of the shells have a tendency to wedge in the recesses, thereby making difficult the ejection of the empty shells from the cylinder after discharge. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved cylinder construction which will enclose the heads of the shells to protect the user of the firearm from injury in case the shell should burst, without necessitating the provision of individual recesses for each shell, thereby incorporating the advantages of the prior constructions with none of their disadvantages.

According to the present invention, the rearward end of the cylinder is provided with an annular recess substantially wider than the heads of the shells and sufliciently deep to accommodate the heads of said shells without interfering with the free rotation of the cylinder. The provision of the annular recess results in the formation of a rearwardly extending flange adjacent the outer periphery of the cylinder which will permit the shells tobe entirely enclosed within the revolver. Other and further objects and ad vantages will appear from the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1.is a rear elevation of a cylinder embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, partly in section, of Fig. 1. 7

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures.

Referring to the drawing, the cylinder 1 has the usual plurality of parallel longitudinal bores 2 extending therethrough, said bores being equally spaced from the center of CYLINDER ooNsrRUorIoN FOR FIREARMS Serial No; 585,252.

said cylinder and being arranged to receive therein the shells 3. According to theinvention, the rearward end of the cylinder is formed with an annular recessd, which, as

best shown in Fig. 2, is substantially equal in depth tothe thickness of the heads 5 of the shells and which is substantially wider than the heads of said shells, said recess extending to a po nt adjacent the periphery ofsaid cylinder to" provide an annular flange 6. This flange 6 extends rearwardly from said cylinder into engagement with that portion of the revolver, not shown, which is in back of the cylinder, thereby to entirely seal the recess 4 and to enclose the heads 5, so that if any of the shells should burst, it will be impossible for portions of the shellor the head thereof to escape from said recess.

The recess 4 extends inwardly from the bores 3 toward the center of said cylinder to provide betweenits inner and cuter'walls a space substantially wider than the heads of the shells, without materially reducing the" central portion 7 of the cylinder which is notched at 8 in the usual manner to provide for the automatic rotation of the cylinder and the positioning of said cylinder for the discharge of successive shells.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the improved cylinder is provided with c p an annular recess which is readily formed by said cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal bores therein for the reception of shells, a rearwardly projecting annular flange adjacent the periphery of the cylinder and beyond the bores in said cylinder,-said flange being substantially as deep as the thickness of the heads of the shells, to provide, within said flange, a recess for the reception of said heads, whereby said heads shall be substantially flush with the outer end surface of said flange. 7 r

2. In a cylinder for revolvers and the like, said cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal bores therein for the reception of shells, and a recess in the rearward end of said cylin- 5 der, said recess being coextensive with and extending beyond the openings of the longitndinal bores for the reception of the heads of the shells, said recess being at least as deep as the thickness of the heads of the shells,-

whereby said heads are received within the cylinder and the outer surfaces of said heads are flush with the rearward end of said cylinder.

3. In a cylinder for revolvers and the like,

said cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal bores therein for the reception of shells, and an annular recess in the rearward end of said cylinder, said recess being wider than the diameter of said bores and overlying the openings thereto for the reception of the heads of the shells, said recess being at least as deep as the thickness of the heads of the shells. JOHN W. HARRINGTON. 

